Computer power supply mounting apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A computer, or other similar type of electronic device including a chassis, and a power supply mounted in the chassis is disclosed. One or more hooks are provided on one of the walls of the chassis and one or more corresponding walls of the power supply so that the power supply can be placed in the chassis and moved relative to the chassis to engage the hooks and secure the power supply in the chassis against movement in a first plane. A single screw is provided for engaging the chassis and the power supply for securing the power supply against movement in a plane perpendicular to the first plane. A tab on a wall of the chassis guides the power supply.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of computers, and othersimilar type of electronic devices, and, more particularly, to themounting of a power supply in the computer chassis.

BACKGROUND

Many types of electronic devices, such as computers, include a powersupply which is mounted in a housing or chassis along with the othercircuits, components, and peripheral devices. Since the power supplyreceives alternating current electrical power and converts thealternating current to direct current for operating the variouselectrical components, safety regulations require that the power supplybe completely enclosed in a case to prevent access to potentiallyharmful high voltages. As a result, power supplies are relatively heavyand bulky and, as such, present manufacturing and assembly productionproblems, along with problems accessing the power supply after it hasbeen installed. For example, most power supplies are mounted to thechassis using several screws, making it difficult and time consuming toreplace or remove the power supply for repair. Moreover, additionalparts must often be added to the chassis to strengthen it so that it cansupport the power supply. Further, there are a number of bundles ofwires that exit the power supply case and are routed to variouscomponents also located in the chassis. However, these wires oftenbecome tangled and create added bulk and can obstruct the installationof the cover for the chassis and/or the installation of peripheraldevices, such as hard drives, CD ROMS, etc, in the chassis.

Therefore, what is needed is a power supply that is easily attached andremoved from the chassis, does not require additional structural supportand permits the wire bundles extending from the power supply to be neatand orderly, while taking up minimal space,

SUMMARY

A chassis having a bottom wall and at least one upright wall extendingfrom the bottom wall, and a power supply mounted in the chassis isdisclosed. One or more hooks are provided on at least one of the wallsof the chassis and on at least one corresponding wall of the powersupply so that the power supply can be placed in the chassis and movedrelative to the chassis to engage the hooks and secure the power supplyin the chassis against movement in a first plane, A single screw isprovided for engaging the chassis and the power supply for securing thepower supply against movement in a plane perpendicular to the firstplane. The power supply housing is configured so that the cablesextending therefrom do not interfere with installation of the chassiscover or any peripheral devices installed in the chassis.

Advantages are thus achieved because the power supply can be easily andquickly installed, serviced and replaced, yet does not require anyadditional structural support and permits the wire bundles extendingfrom the power supply to be neat and orderly, while taking up minimalspace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a computer according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, rear isometric view of the power supply and thechassis of the computer of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an exploded, front isometric view of the power supply and thechassis of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but depicting the power supplyfully installed in the chassis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The personal computer according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown schematically in FIG. 1 of the drawings by thereference numeral 1, and includes a processor 2, a memory device 3, andtwo input/output (110) devices 4, all contained within a chassis, orinner enclosure, 5. Two buses 6a and 6b are also disposed in the chassis5 and connect the processor 2 to the memory device 3 and to theinput/output devices 4, respectively. A mother board 8 is also providedin the chassis 5 for mounting and interconnecting various electricalcircuits and related devices. A power supply 10 is mounted in thechassis 5 in a manner to be described and is also connected to themother board 8. It is understood that other electrical traces (notshown) are provided for connecting the components of the computer 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the chassis 5 is formed by a rear wall 14, twosidewalls 16 and 18, and a bottom wall, or floor, 20. A bezel 14a isattached to the wall 14 and, although not shown for the convenience ofpresentation, it is understood that additional portions of an outerenclosure, including a cover, extend over the chassis 5. The chassis 5is normally fabricated from sheet metal and the outer enclosure,including the bezel 14a, from plastic.

The power supply 10 includes an outer case 24 formed of sheet metalwhich houses the various components and circuitry forming the powersupply which are not shown since they do not, per se, form any part ofthe preferred embodiment. A pair of spaced locking hooks 26a and 26b areprovided on a side wall of the case 24 and, as viewed in FIG. 3, a pairof spaced locking hooks 28a and 28b are provided on the bottom wall ofthe case 24. The hooks 26a, 26b, 28a, and 28b can be formed by cuttingand bending the sheet metal forming the wall of the case 24 in aconventional manner. The rear wall of the case 24 includes an air grill30 (FIG. 2) which permits the flow of air to and from the power supplycomponents and circuits enclosed in the case. The rear wall of the case24 is also provided with a threaded opening 32 which receives a screw(not shown in FIG. 3) which also extends through the opening 14a in therear wall 14 of the chassis 5.

As better shown in FIG. 3, a front corner of the case 24 is relieved asshown by the reference numeral 24a and an opening is formed in therelieved portion through which two wire bundles 36a and 36b extend. Twoconnectors 37a and 37b respectively extend on the exposed ends of thewires of the bundles 36a and 36b for connecting same to correspondingconnectors associated with another component (not shown) located in thechassis 5. It is understood that one or more additional wire bundles canextend through the latter opening in the relieved portion 24a of thecase 24. Since the wire bundles 36a and 36b extend from the relievedportion 24a of the case 24, the wires do not extend above the upper wallof the case 24 as viewed in FIG. 3, and thus do not interfere with theinstallation of the above-mentioned cover for the chassis 5, nor withany peripheral devices installed in the chassis. Similarly, two wirebundles 38a and 38b extend through the front wall of the case and twoconnectors 39a and 39b respectively extend on the exposed ends of thewires for connection to corresponding connectors associated with anothercomponent in the chassis 5. It is understood that one or more additionalwire bundles can extend through the latter opening in the front wall ofthe case 24.

As also shown in FIG. 3, a pair of spaced hooks 40a and 40b are formedon the inner surface of the sidewall 16 of the chassis 5, and a pair ofspaced hooks 42a and 42b are formed on the bottom wall 20 of the chassisThe spacing between the hooks 40a and 40b are the same as the spacingbetween the hooks 26a and 26b (FIG. 2), and the spacing between thehooks 42a and 42b are the same as the spacing between the hooks 28a and28b, respectively. The hooks 40a, 40b, 42a, and 42b can be formed bycutting and bending the sheet metal forming the chassis 5 in aconventional manner.

An inwardly projecting tab 44 is provided on the rear wall 14 of thechassis 5 and an inwardly-projecting tab 46 is provided on the sidewall16, with the latter tab functioning to guide the power supply during itsinstallation, as will be described. Also, as better shown in FIG. 2, anopening 14a is provided in the rear wall 14 for receiving a mountingscrew 48.

To mount the power supply 10 in the chassis 5, the power supply ispositioned above the chassis 5 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The tab 44guides and locates the power supply 10 as it is lowered until it restson the bottom wall 20. The power supply 10 is then pushed in a directionindicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3 towards the rear wall 14 until therear wall of the power supply passes underneath the tab 44 and engagesthe rear wall 14 of the chassis 5 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result ofthis latter movement, the hooks 26a and 26b (FIG. 2) on the sidewall ofthe case 24 engage the hooks 40a and 40b, respectively, on the sidewall16 of the chassis 5. Similarly, the hooks 28a and 28b on the bottom wallof the case 24 engage the hooks 42a and 42b, respectively on the bottomwall 20 of the chassis. The screw 48 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is then insertedthrough the opening 14a in the rear wall 14 and into the threadedopening 32 in the power supply case 24 to further secure the powersupply 10 in the chassis 5 as shown in FIG. 3.

As a result of the above, the engaging hooks 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b, 40a,40b, 42a, and 42b prevent any vertical movement of the power supply 10relative to the chassis 5, as well as any lateral movement towards thecenter of the chassis; while the screw 48 prevents any lateral movementtowards the front of the chassis. Thus, the power supply 10 is wellsecured in its assembled condition relative to the chassis as shown inFIG. 4. It is noted that the power supply 10 provides significantstructural support for the corner area of the chassis 5 defined by therear wall 14 and the sidewall 16. Further, the wire bundles 36 and 38are not tangled but rather are neat and orderly and do not interferewith the installation of the chassis cover or any peripheral devices inthe chassis 5.

To remove the power supply 10 from the chassis 5 for repair orreplacement, the screw 48 is removed from the opening 32 in the case 24and the power supply 10 is moved relative to the chassis 5 in adirection opposite the direction indicated by the arrow A, i.e., in adirection away from the rear wall 14. This disengages the hooks 26a and26b from the hooks 40a and 46b, and the hooks 28a and 28b from the hooks42a and 42b and, when the front wall of the case 24 hits the tab 46, therespective hooks are completely clear of each other. Then the powersupply 10 can be lifted from the chassis 5.

For the convenience of presentation, several other components, circuits,and peripheral devices of the computer, including those shown in FIG. 1,are not shown in FIG. 2, since they do not form a part of the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as herein described. Forexample, the inventive concepts described herein are not limited to usewith a computer as described above by means of example, but is equallyapplicable for mounting any electrical component. Also, the number ofhooks, and the number of walls of the power supply and chassis on whichthe hooks are formed, can vary. Further, the power supply 10 can besecured against lateral movement relative to the chassis 5 by any typeof fastener other than the screw 48.

It is also understood that the embodiment of the assembly describedabove is intended to illustrate rather than limit the invention, andthat the mounting assembly can take many other forms and embodimentswithin the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer comprising a chassis having a bottomwall, at least one upright wall extending from the bottom wall, a tabformed on one of the walls of the chassis, and at least one hookprovided on one of the walls; and a power supply having at least onehook, whereby the power supply can be placed in the chassis and movedrelative to the chassis to engage the hooks and secure the power supplyin the chassis, the tab for guiding the power supply relative to thechassis during installation of the power supply to the chassis.
 2. Thecomputer of claim 1 further comprising two spaced hooks formed on one ofthe walls of the chassis and two spaced hooks formed on the power supplywhich respectively engage the hooks on the chassis.
 3. The computer ofclaim 1 wherein the power supply and the chassis each has two sidewallsand a bottom wall, wherein there are two spaced hooks formed on asidewall and on the bottom wall of the power supply, and wherein thereare two spaced hooks formed on a sidewall and the bottom wall of thechassis; the hooks on the sidewall of the power supply respectivelyengaging the hooks on the sidewall of the chassis, and hooks on thebottom wall of the power supply respectively engaging the hooks on thebottom wall of the chassis.
 4. The computer of claim 3 wherein thechassis has a rear wall and wherein the power supply engages the rearwall of the chassis in its secured position.
 5. The computer of claim 4further comprising a threaded opening formed in the power supply, anopening extending through the rear wall of the chassis, and a screwextending through the opening in the latter rear wall and in threadedengagement with the threaded opening, to further secure the power supplyto the chassis.
 6. The computer of claim 1 wherein a portion of thepower supply is relieved and has an opening extending therethrough forreceiving a wire bundle so that the bundle does not extend above theupper wall of the power supply.
 7. The computer of claim 1 wherein thehooks secure the power supply against movement relative to the chassisin a first plane and further comprising means for securing the powersupply against movement relative to the chassis in a plane perpendicularto the first plane.
 8. The computer of claim 7 wherein the meanscomprises a screw extending through an opening in the chassis and inthreaded engagement with the power supply.
 9. A computer comprising achassis having a bottom wall, at least one upright wall extending fromthe bottom wall, and at least one hook provided on one of the wall; anda power supply having at least one hook, whereby the power supply can beplaced in the chassis and moved relative to the chassis to engage thehooks and secure the power supply in the chassis, the power supply andthe chassis each having two sidewalls and a bottom wall, wherein thereare two spaced hooks formed on a sidewall and on a bottom wall of thepower supply, the hooks on the sidewall of the power supply respectivelyengaging the hooks on the sidewall of the chassis, and hooks on thebottom wall of the power supply respectively engaging the hooks on thebottom wall of the chassis, the computer further comprising a tab formedon a sidewall of the chassis to guide the power supply relative to thechassis during installation of the power supply to the chassis.
 10. Anelectronic device comprising a chassis having a bottom wall, at leastone upright wall extending from the bottom wall, a tab formed in one ofthe walls, and at least one hook provided on one of the walls; and apower supply having at least one hook, whereby the power supply can beplaced in the chassis and moved relative to the chassis to engage thehooks and secure the power supply in the chassis, the tab forpositioning the power supply relative to the chassis during installationof the power supply on the chassis.
 11. The device of claim 10 furthercomprising two spaced hooks formed on one of the walls of the chassisand two spaced hooks formed on the power supply which respectivelyengage the hooks on the chassis.
 12. The device of claim 10 wherein thepower supply and the chassis each has two sidewalls and a bottom wall,wherein there are two spaced hooks formed on a sidewall and on thebottom wall of the power supply, and wherein there are two spaced hooksformed on a sidewall and the bottom wall of the chassis; the hooks onthe sidewall of the power supply respectively engaging the hooks on thesidewall of the chassis, and hooks on the bottom wall of the powersupply respectively engaging the hooks on the bottom wall of thechassis.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the chassis has a rear walland wherein the power supply engages the rear wall of the chassis in itssecured position.
 14. The device of claim 13 further comprising athreaded opening formed in the power supply, an opening extendingthrough the rear wall of the chassis, and a screw extending through theopening in the latter rear wall and in threaded engagement with thethreaded opening, to further secure the power supply to the chassis. 15.The device of claim 10 wherein a portion of the power supply is relievedand has an opening extending therethrough for receiving a wire bundle sothat the bundle does not extend above the upper wall of the powersupply.
 16. The device of claim 10 wherein the hooks secure the powersupply against movement relative to the chassis in a first plane andfurther comprising means for securing the power supply against movementrelative to the chassis in a plane perpendicular to the first plane. 17.The device of claim 16 wherein the means comprises a screw extendingthrough an opening in the chassis and in threaded engagement with thepower supply.
 18. An electronic device comprising a chassis having abottom wall, at least one upright wall extending from the bottom wall,and at least one hook provided on one of the walls; and a power supplyhaving at least one hook, whereby the power supply can be placed in thechassis and moved relative to the chassis to engage the hooks and securethe power supply in the chassis, wherein the power supply and thechassis each has two sidewalls and a bottom wall, wherein there are twospaced hooks formed on a sidewall and on the bottom wall of the powersupply, and wherein there are two spaced hooks formed on a sidewall andthe bottom wall of the chassis, the hooks on the sidewall of the powersupply respectively engaging the hooks on the sidewall of the chassis,and hooks on the bottom wall of the power supply respectively engagingthe hooks on the bottom wall of the chassis; the electronic devicefurther comprising a tab formed on a sidewall of the chassis to guidethe power supply relative to the chassis during installation of thepower supply to the chassis.
 19. A method of mounting a power supply toa chassis of an electronic device, the method comprising the steps ofproviding cooperating hooks on the power supply and the chassis,providing a tab on a sidewall of the chassis for guiding the powersupply relative to the chassis during installation of the power supplyon the chassis, positioning the power supply in the chassis and slidingthe power supply relative to the chassis to engage the hooks and securethe power supply in the chassis.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein thehooks secure the power supply against movement relative to the chassisin one plane, and further comprising the step of securing the powersupply against movement relative to the chassis in another planeperpendicular to the first plane.
 21. A computer comprising a chassis, apower supply, at least one hook mounted on the chassis and the powersupply for engaging to secure the power supply against movement relativeto the chassis in a first plane, means for guiding the power supplyrelative to the chassis during installation of the power supply on thechassis, and means for securing the power supply against movementrelative to the chassis in a plane perpendicular to the first plane. 22.The computer of claim 21 wherein the means for securing is a screwextending through an opening in the chassis and in threaded engagementwith the power supply.
 23. An electronic device comprising a chassis, apower supply, at least one hook mounted on the chassis and the powersupply for engaging to secure the power supply against movement relativeto the chassis in a first plane, means for guiding the power supplyrelative to the chassis during installation of the power supply withinthe chassis, and means for securing the power supply against movementrelative to the chassis in a plane perpendicular to the first plane. 24.The device of claim 23 wherein the means for securing is a screwextending through an opening in the chassis and in threaded engagementwith the power supply.